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In an incredible fusion of medicine, engineering, and technology, a world-class team from Tel Aviv Medical Center, PTC, and Hexagon has achieved a medical breakthrough: a fully personalized scapula implant designed specifically for a young cancer patient. This collaboration is setting new standards for personalized healthcare, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in digital engineering for medical implants.
The challenge
Imagine being a young patient, suffering from months of pain and restricted movement, only to be diagnosed with a rare cancer. MRI imaging revealed extensive damage to the scapula, the shoulder blade, along with an aggressive tumor infiltrating surrounding muscles. The team at Tel Aviv Medical Center, PTC, and Hexagon faced the daunting task of creating a custom shoulder blade implant for the patient. This project required immense precision to address the complexity of the problem, balancing anatomical, medical, engineering, manufacturing, and certification constraints.
The solution
Using the power of Creo’s tools for design for additive manufacturing and high-fidelity simulations, the team successfully created a fully personalized scapula implant. This implant was manufactured and certified using technology from Hexagon. The innovative design included advanced lattice structures to facilitate the ingrowth of connective tissue and muscles, ensuring smooth joint kinematics and optimal mechanical properties.
The results
The surgery went as planned, with the personalized implant fitting seamlessly into the patient’s anatomy. The precisely customized part, achieved through Creo design and Hexagon certification tools, played a pivotal role in the patient’s swift recovery, allowing her to begin regaining mobility within days. Today, the patient is progressing through rehabilitation, with restored function and an improved quality of life.
A new era in personalized medicine
Integrating digital thread technologies to create personalized solutions that support efficient soft tissue ingrowth is redefining personalized medicine. For patients facing complex skeletal cancers, this marks a new dawn—one where innovative technology meets compassionate healthcare.
Bioactive printed implants are the future of implants
Bioactive printed implants are the future of implants
Bioactive printed implants are the future of implants
Bioactive printed implants are the future of implants
"The development of complex implantable printed materials, together with powerful additive manufacturing and simulation software, enables us to introduce smart implants to the surgical world. These implants interact with tissues to optimize their survival in the body, ensuring a perfect fit and promoting tissue growth. These advancements mark a new era in personalized medicine.”
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